some "summer 2017 in review" photos

post #365
          It's my pleasure to be thinking of summer, for two reasons. One is that it is cold out, and the trees are bare. There's even a coating of thin ice on my small pond. The other reason, however, is that I am reminded of the wonderful tradition that is our COUSIN CAMP and other such times when it's warm and friends are out and about. So, this "every other week, end of year quick review" idea of mine continues. Working backward through 2017 (see post #363), here are some favorite photos from June, July and August. These are not necessarily celebrating an artist's essential alone time. Instead these times provide important balance to that inclination to be alone and working all the time.

      Sorry, I can't help adding that I am appalled that our government is about to pass a terrible tax bill that will help our elected officials a whole lot but not most of us. And Trump won't even share his tax returns with us. It feels like a hasty, shady, desperate robbery in broad daylight, a behind closed doors bully effort, especially because it will even damage the Affordable Health Care Act at the same time. OK, no more words from me for now. But let's not ever forget, as if we could.

I followed Jonathan's redo of the Purnell barn all summer.  I love taking barn photos....

a favorite photo from the summer, Jean's chair in the garden next to the barn being rebuilt

another neighbor, Gary, came by with his grandson while taking a four wheeler ride here and there

This is where Gary lives, along Mauk Ridge, and I just like this photo I made there.

Let the Cousin Camp show begin!

Actually here are cousins and cousins of cousins, and aunts and uncles and parents....

 

early one morning, photo by Rebecca

   The Cousin Camp usually happens in July. Two June photos are next:

The field next to my house got a bit overgrown, so I had to call in the big guys....

I enjoyed watching Wayne zip around on this thing while mowing where needed!

A long overdue visit with my friend, Sue. She and I visited her son, Zeke. He has a horse farm in the Bluegrass, and the next photo is the barn where we were.

 

Evidence of a walk to the waterfalls after a big rain, by my daughter, her husband and their daughter -- I love this photo and am glad I happened upon it!  Happy outings to everyone, and I hope you enjoyed some summer during this week before Christmas. Stay safe or at least dry out when you can!

Gardens, evening walks, and being present

post #341
        Sunday evening greetings three days after the solstice! Winter, here we come.....
       I've been enjoying everyone's gardens -- especially since I don't have one of my own this year. I'll try to feature various ones over the summer, though of course at this point they all look so deceptively clean and orderly compared to the abundance and chaos that lies ahead... Jean gave me a cucumber from her garden last time I was over at the barn being rebuilt, and, as always, I look forward to the first REAL tomatoes. I'll have to dig up, so to speak, the poem I once wrote in homage to the first drippy delicious BLT of the summer.  Melva, I am saving my photos of your early garden to pair them with ones I plan to take in a couple of weeks -- a sort of "before and during" show. As always, thank you for your weekly comments on these posts!
        I'd like to share this link to some valuable information about possums, who don't always get a fair rap, and who sometimes like to kill a chicken in the night....
       OK, now here are a few photos of the brand new first-time-laid-out garden that my daughter and my son-in-law are tending and trying their first summer being back in Kentucky. BRAVO!! 

looking from the house toward the barn

barn behind, house ahead, with wildflowers sown on the right

how tall photographers see potted herbs

another patch, another view toward the barn

       I gather that after all the rain we had Friday and Saturday -- which caused a lot of problems, actually, such as broken water lines and flooding in certain locations -- the three gardeners went wild playing in the rain and the pond, etc.  After all, a big rain without thunder and lightning is a whole different experience. And the house is on a hill so not easily flooded. In any case, I thought the boots-out-to-dry were very picturesque.
 

       
 Here is the wearer of the red boots.... and our hands measuring one another...

       
        For a balance to such exhuberance, I am also sharing a walk I took before dark last night in my current "neighborhood" -- very quiet, no cars, newly mowed fields, lovely skies. I didn't even hear a dog or see a deer.

headed up the hill from Sideway Road

passing Thelma's house

This tree row lining one of her fields feels British to me. Go figure.

more of her newly mowed hay fields along the way

  


        Here, to end, is another unexpected sky from several nights ago, along the ridge.

       Evening walks can bring on pensive musings: May we each have peace in our lives, as well as in the beauty around us, and practice problem solving to make it happen.